Do you desire an unearned reputation? Many do …

The average person wants to be well thought of.

Even the many who say the opinion of others isn’t important to them at the same time usually admit they don’t want to be “incorrectly measured” — or, put another way, to be misunderstood or someone having the “wrong measure” of them.

Having a desire to be well thought of is not a bad thing. In fact, scripture elevates being a person who is well thought of to a place of significance:

“Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold,” Proverbs 22:1.

“A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born,” Ecclesiastes 7:1.

“This is a trustworthy saying: ‘If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.’ So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach,” 1 Timothy 3:1-2.

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world,” 1 Peter 2:12.

The challenge to being well thought of is the fact that the most persistent thing that determines what people think about us is how we actually act and what we communicate, a point even scripture points to:

“Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right,” Proverbs 20:11.

But for the Apostle Paul, that was precisely the measure he wanted people to use when thinking about him:

“If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,” 2 Corinthians 12:6.

What did Paul consider to be the real measure of a person? “… what they can see in my life or hear in my message.”

While most of us want to be well thought of, we don’t always want to live the kind of life, and speak in such a way, that we earn being well thought of by others. We might want to be thought of as a person of integrity without always being a person of sterling ethics and morality. We may want to be thought as a generous person without giving to the point of generosity. We may want to be considered to be a loving person without consistently, persistently loving so that such a reputation is earned and sustained.

But what if we took up Paul’s measure of a person? If others were to “measure” you from “what they can see” in your life, or “hear in your message,” what would your reputation be? Would you be well thought of?

Scotty